Dump car of the convertible type



A. E. ZIMMER DUMP CAR OF THE CONVERTIBLE TYPE Filed Dec 1. 1922 {1 Sheets-Sheet 1 //VVEN 70R ALBERTE. Z/MMER mm, 1 g, 1924. I 1,515,899

A.,E. ZIMME R BUMP CAR OF THE CONVERTIBLE TYPE ALBEWTE Z/M'MER 5 I u l 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 A. E. ZIMMER DUMP CAR OF THE CONVERTIBLE TYPE Filed Dec. 1.

Nov. 18 1924- ALBERT E. Z/MME'I? #49" ATTaRNE)" \N w LEL Tv Q Q 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 r r cone none can or ran or cnrcaao, mrnora, or cnrcaoo, ILLINOIS, a conrona'rron W 'rrrn application filed December 1, late. aerial W0. 8%,180.

To all whom it may concern:

of the parts when the car is ada ted for Be it known that I, ALBERT E. Zmmrnn, athservice as a ondola or for side umping.

citizen of the United States, residing at Chlcago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain-new and useful Im rovement in Dump Cars of the Convertibe Type, of which the following isa full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thls specification. Y

- accommodating a longitudinally extending hopper.

Another object of this invention is to provide draft sills extending continuously between end sills for the purpose of edectively withstanding butting and draft strains and in the novel combmation of the same with a dumping hopper construction.

A- further object of this invention is to greatly cheapen the construction of cars of the identified type by utilizin the sides of the car as load-carrying mom rs and con neeting the same with transverse beams beneath which longitudinal sills are disposed.

Further, the invention resides in certain novelties of construction and novel combinations of parts, .such as will be more fully pointedout hereinafter and claimed.

In the drawings forming a part of this s ecification, Figure 1 is a side elevation s owing substantially half a car embodying the improvements. Figure 2 is a view of the u per portion of one of the ends of the car owing the skeleton framework employed to brace the sides. Figure. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 33 of Figure 2. Fi ure 4 is a sectional view taken substantial y Y .on line 44=.of Figure l with a portion of the side trussing omitted for purpose of clearness, the left hand portion of Figure 4 showing the position of the parts when the car is arranged as a center dump car and the right hand portion showing the position Figure 5 is a orizontal sectional view of the underframe and ho per framework corres ending substantia y to 5-5 of Figure 1, t e end flooring, doors and other parts bein omitted. And Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical section of a ortion of the car taken substantially throng the longitudinal center of the car.

In said drawings, 10 denotes the planks of the vertical side walls of the car, 11 the lower member of each side truss, 12 the up or member of each side truss, 13 vertical slde I stakes, 14, 15 16, 17 diagonal braces of the side truss each directly secured to the corregponding member 12 and also to a longituinally extending plate 18; 19 corner bands or posts and 20- extension side sills which complete the side truss at each end of the" car. The two side trusses are both preferably of the same construction and rest on the bolsters, each formed of top plate 21, boti tom plate 22 and diaphragms 23 A series -of transverse beams 24, preferably channels located between the bolsters, extend transversely of the side trusses and are secured thereto by means of lplates 25 and 26. Extending longitudina y and below the said transverse beams are longitudinal or center sills 27-27, preferably channels, and seto h cured to the transverse beams by means of gussets, each preferably formed with a wall 28 extending in parallelism with the web of the sills and secured thereto, a. horizontal wall 29 secured to the lower flange of the transverse beam 24 and a transverse verticall extending wall 30 uniting the aforesai walls 28 and 29. In this manner'a connection is secured which eflectively'withstands twisting strains in any direction mas-- much as the walls 28, 29 and 30 are disposed in diderent planes and substantially at right angles to each other.

Sa1d center sills 27-27 at each end of the car are preferably formed with the normal A. R. A. standard spacing of 12 inches for,

b sex ing side .walls 32 conforming to the divergenes of the sills and secured thereto. 'At eachtransverse beam (see Figure 4) a spacin member33, preferably formed of chann shape, is secured to the lower flange of the transverse beam 24 and extends transversely of the hopper between the sills 27-27 and is secured thereto by means of angle-shaped connections 34-34.

Reference to Figure'5. will show that the 7 transition from the standard A. R. R. spacing of they sills to the wider spacing is accomplished by bending-the center si 1 memhers 27-27 and in order to counteract the s readingistendency of the sills under bufg shoc novel form of construction and system of bracing for the underframe structure whereby outward spreading of the sills undo? bufling shocks is prevented. Broadly, this construction consists of uniting at each end of the hopper the diverging portion of the adjacent sills into a box-shaped structure by means of top cover plate 35 and bottom cover plate 36 (see Figure 6). Each top cover plate 35 preferably extends from the end of the hopper past the bolster to the end sill 37 and is there suitably secured to the lower flange thereof. Each of the bottom cover plates 36 extends across the longitudinal sills 27-27 and is securedto the lower flanges thereof and'extended to the body b0l ster' and is there secured to the bolster bottom cover plate 22. Such a construction provides for a box-shaped trapezoidal structure of great strength to which the sides of the car are braced'by means of horizontal braces 38-38 preferably disposed substantially in alignment with the to of'the center sills and above the Wheels w ich are designated herein as 39. O posed to braces 38 and preferably dispose on substantially the same level are braces 40-40 extending from the junction of the end sill and center sills to the junction of the bolster and the I side sill of the car, thereby bracing the underframe structure in a very rigid manner. Intermediate the transverse beams 24, are short longitudinally extending beam members 41, preferably channels, and secured to the transverse beams by means of plates 42-42. At each end of the longitudinal hopper, transverse beams 43, formed of restricted depth, are secured to the side walls of the car 'by means of angleconnec- .tions 44 and are further supported intermediate their ends by means of brackets 45 due to such bends, I employ apreferably carried by and secured to wood- .en beams 50 and 51 resting on brackets 52 secured to the underframe structure. The sills 27 are adapted to receive the usual draft castings 52 and striking plate 53.

Intermediate the permanent end floor portions 49 and-over what is commonoly designated the hopper section of the car between the trucks, the floor of the car comprises'sets of hinged convertible floor sections which, broa l consist of planks 54 bolted together on angle beams 55 .which are bent over to form hinges 56 adapted to receive pins 57 ,and by means of which the sections are swingingly mounted on hinge brackets 58 carried by the short beams 41. The swinging sections as shown in the left hand portion of Figure 4 are adapted to form the upper slopin walls of a longitudinally extending V-s aped center dumpin hopper. A continuation of the said inclmed walls in a downward direction consists of planks 59 secured to blocks 60 and bridging the space on each side of the hopper between the upper beams 41 and sills 27.

Between the sills 27 and extending longitudinally of the car is the stationary floor 61, secured at its upper part by means of blocks 62 to the adjacent sill 27, and which is inclined downwardly and supported at the free edge thereof from the underframe structure by means of straps 63 secured to' beams 33. A downwardly inclined dlim ing door having its surface formed of plan 64 and a channel 65 is-disposed opposite to the inclined floor 61 in such a manner that its free edge will be adjacent thereto when the as best shown in Fig. 4, is particularly advantageous in securing a greater degree of door opening than would otherwise 'be possible. The aperture presented between the door and sill 27 to which it is hin ed, is closed by disposing above the hinge rackets 69, longitudinally extending blocks 70 and door shields 71. p

For the purpose of operatin the said hopper door, I provide brackets %2 adapted to extend beyond the free edge of the door and secured to the channel 65. A series of chains 73 or other flexible elements each having one end thereof connected to a I bracket 72 and the other and w 1 actuated by any suitable mech r ated. The shaft 75, which is sheave 74- It shw M u: 7 mounted on a longitm u 75 by means of which the out cors' IIlOllllbBd ill a :1.

this instance the prefe arranent consists of worm and gear mec an; enl0 closed in a bone 7 7. Rotation oftheworm is edected by lever 78 act thro h transverse shaft 79 which is fit at t e outer end thereof with 100 11 1 1S!!! 0011- sisting of ratchet 80, that pawl 811 and locking dog 82; the lo mwhanlsm beingpreferably disposed on the side of the car and mounted thereon by a plate 83.

At each end of the hopper, plates 84 and 85 formthe end walls and a portion of the side walls of the stationary hopper ow then horizontal floor level of the wr. The end walls of the hopper above the floor line of the car, consist 0 end planks 86 removably mounted between guides 87, preferably angles, secured to the car side we these planks being movable to a position M the end ework of the car to complete the end walls of a gondola car when m such position.

The ends of the car in this particr invention are each formed with horizontaltop member 88 secured to the sides ofthe car by means of gamete 89, intermediate vertical posts 90 and 91, and corner end posts 92 secured to top memmr 88 and to the end sill. The corner end posts 92 are secured 'to the corner bands 19 and posts 90 and 91 are spaced therefi'om a suficient distance to permit theuse of these members as stiles for vertical end ladders, the rungs thereof being rovided by grab-irons 93 extending there tween. Furthermore, the post 90 forms a rigid support for securing a brake mast bracket 94 theretoadapted to receive brake mast 95 and the actuating means therefor 98. A grab handle 97 extends between the posts 90 and 91.. A brake platform 98 is supported on brackets 09. -Within the car, les 100 are secured to the interior side walls thereof presenting in conjunction with the inner walls of the corner bands 19, guide y recesses within which the planks 86 may be moved to complete the end walls of the car as a gondola type. In this manner the skel.

. eton framework forming the end of the or 7 forms a supporting frame for the ladders and brake mast and edectively may or outwardly, thereby enabling t e side trusses to advantageously fulfill their functions as load-carrying members.

Extendjing outwardly from the convertible swinging floor sections are laterally discharging side dump doors 101,-each provided with so porting beams102, the latter 7 2K9. e hinge brackets 58 by means of bin 5'1, the latter forming common plvots for] maintains each, referab y bent to form a hinge where y the doors may be mounted on pivots the said sidedump doors and convertible floor sections. Any suitable means may be uti lized for holding the side. dump doors in 7 closed position. 'A preferred construction is that shown herein which consists in extending the hinge beams 102 beyond the side of the car and engaging the same by means of door hooks 104 in locked position by Suitable means for limiting the downward swing of the doors 101 may consist of straps 107 securely riveted to the transverse beams.

Intermediate the doors 101, I have disposed narrow filler planks 108 resting on the transverse beams 24 thereby forming a level floor car when the said doors 101 are in closed position and the swinging convertible floor sections have been swun inwardly to .a level osition as shown on t e right hand half of igure 4. In this position, 1t will be noted that the planks 5t formin the convertible floor sections rest direct y on the transverse beams 24 and the free edges of said sections meet substantially at the longitudinalcenter of the car thereby forming a car having the floor thereof in one lane and locking dogs 106.

therefore of much advantage w en it is" fected at the side of the track by means of side dumping doors 101.

The swinging floor-sections are each arranged to swing in a single are as shown by the dotted line 109 with the free edge thereof resting directly against the side wall of the car and supported thereby and therefore the angles 55 of the fioor sectionsconstitute v pivotally mounted on. brackets and adapted to be maintained beams supported by the side wall of the car and at the hinges 56. With this construction of a unitary fioor section thus braced, I am enabled to dispense with the supporting brackets usually disposed on the side wall of the 'car for the purpose of sustaining the floor sections in the inclined position and which impede the unloading of coal or similar lading by'means of a clam shell bucket- I The convertible floor sections are formed insuch manner that when swung to the up wardly inclined position as shown in the left hand portion of Figure 4, the side dumping doors 101 are covered and rendered inoperative and discharge of the lading is edected by-opening the hopper dumping door through the actuation of shaft 75.

' It will noted'that the improved freightcar construction providesfor an unobstructed central hopper between-cross-bearers and furthermore-I obtain a carof very strong construction and strongly fortlfied to sustain draft and bufiing shocks, and a car wherein the side walls arefutilized to carry the vertical .load.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art, various changes may be made in the details of construction and arran ement of parts. The form which I have s own and described I consider the preferable one but contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the appended hereto.

claim:

1. In a dum car, the combination with bolsters and en sills;.of center sills extendin substantial] inparallelisni from the end si s inwardly t rough the bolsters, said sills diverging for a limited distance after passclaims ing through the bolsters and thence extending in parallelism thereby presenting a wide space between the sills; and a longitudinal V-shaped hopper disposed in said wide space.

4 2. In a'dump car, thecombination with bolsters; of continuous center sills extending from end to end of the car and extending through the bolsters at the normal A. R. A. spacing, said sills having a wider spacing than normal for a'distance intermediate the bolsters; and a longitudinally disposed V-shaped hopper interposed there-,.

, between.

I tudinal y of the ho per and converging 3. In a dump car, a lon 'tudinally extendin hopper mcluding en floors inclined inwar y and, downwardly and a pivoted dischar e door; and sills extending longiwardly at each an of the hopper an extending under the inclined hopper end floors.

4. In a dump car, a longitudmall extending hopper; sills disposed at each side of the hopper and extending longitudinally thereof; and stationary sloping side and end floors disposed entirely above the sills, the aforesaid sills converging at each end of the hopper and passing beneath said stationary end floors. p s

5. In a dump car, a longitudinally extend- I ing hopper having side walls and end walls;

. sills disposed at eachjside of the hopper and extending longitudinally thereof, the aforesaid sills converging at each end of the hopper; and tying plates extendin from one sill to the 'other at the top and ttom of the. converging portions of said sills andv therebyuniting the same and forming a boxlike section.

6. In a dump car, the combination with a bolster; of center sills extending through the bolster substantially -in arallelism and diverging inwardly thereo 5 a filler formatlases ing a plortion ofthe bolster interposed between t a said sills, said filler having diverging flangessecured to the diver 'ng sills.

In a dump car, the com ination of longitudinally extending sills; of -a longitudinally'extendmg hopper, includmg a pivoted discharge door, extendin therebetween, said sills converging inwar y at the ends of the hopper; and a horizontally extending.

plate disposed at each end of the ho per.

and extending from one to the other 0 the said sills and secured thereto.

8. In a dum car, the combination of end sills; body he sters; longitudinal sills; a longitudinally extending hopper disposed between the-sills, said sills conver 'ng inwardly at the ends of the hopper an extending in parallelism throu h the bolsters; top cover plates secured to oth of said sills at each end of the car and each extending to both sides of the corres onding bolster and transversely tying the ivergent portion of the sills together mwardly of the bolster.

9. In a dump car the combination with bolsters and end s' ls; of center sills extendinitferom the end sills inwardly through the b0 r and diverging outwardly thereafter to present a transversely widened space between said sills intermediate the bolsters; a 1011 itudinally extending hopper, includin a isch'arge' door interposed between said sil s; and means ;for tying the said sills together at the ends of the said hopper comprisingtop and bottom cover plates, each extending from one sill to the other and secured thereto to thereby provide box-like sections beyond the ends of the hopper.

10. Ina dump car, the combination with the sides of the car; of body bolsters; sills extending longitudinallilbetween the bolsters and diverging. outwar y therefrom for a limited distance and extending thence in parallelism thereby presenting a transversely widened s e; a longitudinally extending be per 'sposed between the said sills' and 31a onal braces extending, outwardly from the sills adjacent the ends of the hopper towards the junctions of the body .bolsters and sides of the car and connected thereto.

11. In a dump car, the combination of lower portion of a longitudinally extending hopper being disposed between the said sills; beams disposed in parallelism with the said sills and above the same and spaced outwardly therefrom; and floor sections sloping inwardly and downwardly and connecting the said beams and sills and forming walls of the hopper.

13. Ina dump car, the combination of load-carrying sides; transversely disposed beams carried thereby; longitudinal sills disposed below the said transverse beams; a longitudinally extending hopper disposed between the said sills; and connections uniting-the said sills and transverse beams each including a transversely and vertically extending gusset portion and transversely and horizontally extending gusset portion.

14. In a dump car, the combinationof load-carrying sides; transversely. disposed beams carried thereby; longitudinal sills disposed below the said transverse beams; a longitudinally extending hopper disposed between the said sills; connections between the said transverse and longitudinal beams, each of said connections being formed of a member presenting walls disposed in three different planes and substantially at right angles to each other.

15. In a dump car, the combination of load-carrying sides and transversely extending beams carried thereby; longitudinal sills disposed below the said transverse beams and secured thereto; a longitudinally extending V-shaped hopper disposed between the sills; longitudinal beams disposed above the said sills and' spaced outwardly therefrom; side dumping doors and swinging floor sections carried by the said beams, the said swinging floor sections being adapted to assume an inclined position forming a portion of the inclined walls of a central hopper and covering the said dumping doors thereby rendering the latter inoperative for side dumping. i

16. In a carof the character described, an underframe construction at each end of the car comprising: a bolster; an end sill; draft sills extending parallelly between the end sill and the bolster';"longitudinal sills inwardly of the bolster and spaced wider apart thanthe draft sills; sill-sections diverging inwardlyfrom the bolster and rigid with said longitudinal sills; an inclined hopper end floor extending between said longitudinal sills; anda horizontally disposed tie-plate located between the bolster and said inclined hopper end floor and united to said divergin sill sections.

17. In a convertible ump car, the combination with longitudinally extending sills between the bolster; of a longitudinally arranged hopper between said sills; transversely extending beams extending across the tops of said longitudinal sills; side walls; longitudinally extending beams located in a plane above the tops vof said -longitudinal sills; and pivotally mounted sets of floor sections supported from said longitudinal beams nd adapting the car tobe converted either into a flat floor gondola or a longitudinal hopper center dump car.

In witness that I claim the foregoin I have hereunto subscribed my name t is 22nd day of November 1922.

ALBERT E. ZIMMER. Witnesses i FRANCES SAVAGE, 

